This is an adult fantasy novel where we follow our main character Marra, who’s the youngest princess of three in a small insignificant kingdom. The middle sister is married to the prince of the Northern Kingdoms to prevent a war. Only problem is that this prince, soon turned king, is abusive and has already killed Marra’s oldest sister.

Now, Marra is determined to not only avenge her dead sister, but also save her sister Kania from the same fate before it’s too late. To help her with killing the prince, she enlists a powerful gravewitch, her reluctant fairy godmother, and strapping former knight called Fenris. Together, they embark on a dark and magical journey to end the reign of a bloodline protected by some powerful magic.

I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I honestly picked it up mostly because of the really great looking cover. As soon as I started this book, I was thinking I’d made a mistake. I found the opening chapters confusing and hard to read and so strange that I wasn’t sure what I was reading.

It had some really interesting elements to it, and I wanted to know more, but it also felt like the answers would never come since it just got more convoluted the more I read. Then something happened and the tone of the book seemed to completely changed and I got immediately invested in the story.

Marra had finally a clear goal that me as a reader could understand and follow. I can say that I found the book unnecessarily slow at times, and the journey took a little too long. In other words, there was a little too much build-up for the ending that never seemed to come.

I think the main character is a little odd in lack of a better word. She’s in her thirties, which I love. I was refreshing to read a story about people that actually was in a normal age doing these dangerous things rather than it behind the usual sixteen-year-olds saving everyone. But, Marra sort of sounded and came across as a kid at times. She was more sixteen than thirty, and the writing sometimes made it feel like I was reading a YA novel.

Which really didn’t bother me that much until Fenris came along and was portrayed as old since he was in his late thirties, and then there was feelings developing between him and Marra and it felt at times like an almost forty-year-old was hooking up with a teenager. Which wasn’t the case, but Marra felt young. I can buy that a lot of her youthfulness and innocence was due to her having spent her whole adult life (and late teens) living with nuns and all that, but still. I would have wanted her a little more mature in this case.

The side characters were actually more interesting than Marra. And the dust-wife especially was super interesting to follow. I loved the bickering between the two old ladies throughout this book, and it was sort of fun to having them try to match up Marra with Fenris.

Fenris, too, is an interesting character, but at times he felt a little flat. It was mostly like he was there as a temptation for the ladies. This strong, broody, mysterious, kind and handsome man who didn’t realize how handsome and strong and kind he really was. I would have wanted a little more depth from him.

But all in all, this was a good book with an interesting world and interesting plot. It had me invested, and I really like that the characters were adults, and there were moments of humor, sadness, joy and fear.

I’d definitely recommend this book. 4/5 stars.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Thank you Titan Books and NetGalley for the E-Arc of this book.
Full Book Review will be live on my blog on the 18th April 2020 via the link on www.stefytalks.com

I wasn't hooked on this book as much as I'd hoped i'd be and got lost a little with some of the things that was happening in the book, but non the less I wanted to keep reading and see what happens next. Safe to say I was very happy with the outcome of the events and happy with the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley, Tor, and T. Kingfisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

This is not the kind of book I would normally pick up, but since it’s a Kingfisher book (I love her) and it was labeled horror (I love her horror) I obviously had to read it.
For me it had a bit too little horror elements for my liking, but for what it was, a dark fairytale retelling, it was magnificent. Together with the lovely tale, the quirky characters, and the classic witty Kingfisher language, it was a delight to read. Since it wasn’t what I normally would gravitate towards I wasn’t in too much of a rush to finish it, so it was a very pleasant experience for me to just read it whenever I had the time or was in the mood. The overall tone of the book reminded me a bit of the game Bloodborne for some reason, but less gruesome. A bit gothic and dark. The horror elements that were in the book were also really creepy (my god did that doll creep me out) so in that sense I was very pleased. Although I would have wished for more of it! The feminist tones of the book were also so satisfying and the way this book just radiated love for women warmed my heart. Also I just love how Kingfisher always manage to incorporate dogs into her books!! She writes them in such a funny way, I love it so much. I literally have no complaints. Kingfisher is simply a superior author and I love her to death.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 4/5 stars

Nettle and Bone is an enjoyable stand-alone fantasy that follows our heroine Marra and her increasingly eclectic collection of compatriots on a journey to kill a prince.

The first half of the novel is a little slow to get going, and jumps around quite a bit such that is hard to really get a feel for Marra as a character. But once she gets started on her quest, the book really picks up, and Marra starts to shine much more, and I started to enjoy her refreshingly normal outlook on the fantastical. I enjoyed her relationship with each of the other main cast – which consist of an ex-knight, two old ladies, a dog made of bones, and a chicken possessed by a demon. As you might guess from the cast-list, the book has a great whimsical tone and is a hugely enjoyable fantasy world – the magic has a great fairy-tale logic to it (that is to say, little, but enjoyably so), and the descriptions of the goblin market, the catacombs, and the travels through the different kingdoms were beautifully done.

Potential trigger warning: this book deals with some darker themes – not for young readers! There is heavy domestic abuse and an early character death. Also, if, like me, you have an unshakable fear of dentists, watch out for the goblin market.

I loved the opening of this book. The fairy-tale like atmosphere and creative world-building really drew me in.

One of my favourite aspects of 'Nettle and Bone' was the system of magic that the author created, I found the idea of dust-wives really original, and I liked the author's fresh take on the stereotypical 'fairy godmother' character. I also really enjoyed the horror aspects of this book (such as the creepy puppet and the blistered lands), and I felt like they meshed well with the fairy-tale vibe.

However, I did feel that the book lost momentum as the plot developed, which made me lose interest a little.

Overall, this is a good short read with a creepy and fairytale-like atmosphere, but in the end I felt that the world-building was a lot more interesting than the main plot.

Unfortunately I did not like this book much at all. I found the first 25% extremely boring and the next 25% not much better so therefore did not finish it. I couldn't relate to any of the characters and did care for Marra. Maybe it's just my personal taste I'm not sure but I definitely do not recommend this book.

This was weird.

Marriage between countries to secure alliances has never been a new thing. When Princess Marra’s oldest sister is sent to marry a Prince to solidify the safety of her country, and dies, her middle sister is drafted in. Not everything is as it seems in the marriage, and Marra, being aware of the danger, wishes to kill the Prince to prevent any further harm happening to her sister, or worse: being drafted in to marry the Prince when her second sister dies.

With the help of a former night, a reluctant fairy godmother, a dust-witch and a chicken possessed by a demon, Marra sets out to save her sister, and herself.

T. Kingfisher’s writing style definitely takes a bit of getting used to, however I found once I was hooked, that was me. This book is so creepy, and I think this mostly comes from the descriptions that Kingfisher uses. There’s just something unsettling about it, it sits right under the surface of your skin, waiting for you to discover what is going on.

The characters fell a little flat for me, I only found that I slightly cared about Marra, but I honestly struggled to get attached to the other characters in the book, which frustrated me given the amount of time that we spend with them. The demonic chicken was the biggest letdown for me, as I expected him to play a bigger part than he did.

This book definitely gave me fairytale vibes, and I think it would be perfect during the autumn months when the seasons are beginning to change. The different settings in this book are described so intricately that I could perfectly picture the market, crypt and other places that the protagonist visits on her adventures.

I rated this 4/5, mostly for the characters falling slightly flat, but I think that enough world building making this book more creepy was what sold it to me.

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the eARC to review.

This was a dark fairy tale that took me a little while to get in to, but when I did I loved it! Not your typical fairy tale, the princess must kill a prince to save her sister and break a curse. There are some great characters, who you become sad to part with at the end of the book. A wonderful read that I highly recommend.

Thank you so much Titan Books and NetGalley for the e-arc of Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon,) in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

What a book! Nettle and Bones is part fairy tale, part horror/tale of macabre, part sardonic comedy and I absolutely loved it!

The world building is flawless, without a hint of lecture or even a this is what it looks like, I was in Marra’s world. I had a clear illustration in my head of the neighbouring kingdoms, the harbour sparkling in the sun, the nunnery and even the goblin market.

The characters are dazzlingly brilliant, ranging from Marra, the 3rd daughter of the royal family, to a demon possessed chicken, and of course the sardonic, often cantankerous and dour dust-wife, plus many more I’d love to tell you about, but don’t want to ruin it for you.

The pacing of the story is perfectly attuned to the tale as Marra and her not do merry band go on a quest to save Marra’s sister. But, be warned, this isn’t a YA story, there are some dark themes including abuse and infant death, that are not explored explicitly, but are key to the plot.

This is a darker fantasy/horror tale that definitely adds a fresh twist, and if you’re looking to escape for a few hours I can’t think of a better way than exploring Nettle and Bone…especially if like me, you’re a dog person!

Nettle & Bone was everything I could ask for in a dark fairytale-esque fantasy. Having read T.Kingfisher’s work before I hoped it would be good, I didn’t realise it would be fantastic. Then again with a line like “This isn’t a story about how the princess marries the prince, it’s about how she kills him..” should I have had any doubts?

The story follows Marra, who after years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince has had enough. The shy, Covent-raised, third-born daughter has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue, no one, except for Marra herself.

Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince – if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning.

On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch,a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that crosses around the throat of the princes and frees Marra’s family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last.

Combining and perhaps even surpassing the original darker fairytales of the likes of the Brother’s Grimm, Kingfisher creates a lavish and well built world, full of darkness and light as well. Their characters are truly memorable. I adored each member of the rag-tag group of five, six really if we include my FAVOURITE character. From Marra’s who’s fierce determination and will makes her impossible to not like, to the sassy possessed chicken, not to mention the wonderful fairy godmother. Each character fit so well with the other, building on strengths and lessening weaknesses. The gravewitch was honestly a delight. I only hope when I am old and grey I can have as much sass and life left in me.

The setting of Nettle & Bone is expertly crafted as well as self-aware. I adored the wit and humour of Kingfisher dotted throughout the novel. It helped lighten some darker parts. I never want to spoil the plot of books I review but I honestly loved everything about this. I won’t say who with but the slow build and how the slight romance and happily ever after was dealt with, was honestly, the best I have read in a while. The ending was amazing at tying everything together and while not conventional giving the ‘happy ending’ Marra and co deserved. I must admit I would love to have more adventures of Marra and Fenris but most importantly with the gravewitch and fairy godmother. Honestly their dichotomy makes and made such a fun and interesting read. I know I said no spoilers but I would also love Bonedog and would honestly give all my money to read just about him!

Honestly this book has everything I love about fairytales mixed with elements of fantasy and horror. It feels real, in a myths and legends sense. I cannot thank Titan Books enough for the chance to review an e-ARC of this title and you can bet I have the physical version pre-ordered.

The first thing to strike me about this novel was how quickly Kingfisher constructs a clear image of a fictional world. Seemingly effortless, there's no over indulgent description to slow the action and yet I got a vivid idea of Marra's surroundings almost immediately.

Kingfisher has an incredible imagination; Nettle & Bone is packed with bizarre magic, strange creatures and utter nonsense- it's just pure fun! Demon chickens, goblin markets, magical staircases and bone dogs, anything is possible and so completely unpredictable.

Kingfisher's writing flows easily, focusing on a single timeline in third person perspective with excellent pacing.

A band of merry(ish) adventurers on a quest to save the future of the Princesses, I really enjoyed Nettle & Bone and highly recommend this ray of sunshine to all fantasy lovers.
Be warned there is some darkness; child loss and abuse lurk beneath the surface, neither of these are at all graphic but exist as a necessary plot point.

The dust-wife gave me a few good belly chuckles, I do like cantankerous old witches. Coupled with Princess Marra's candor and Godmother Agnes naivety I found them so amusing it was easy to forget their murderous intentions.
Every one of the characters (aside from the big bad Prince) was loveable, all of them loyal and righteous- I invested heavily and could read about them all endlessly.

If you are looking for a little more horror in your life though, allow me to redirect you to Kingfisher's previous novel The Hollow Places- another (albeit darker) excellent example of wondrous imagination, endearing characters and skilled world building.

T Kingfisher (aka Ursula Vernon) is now sitting pretty on my autobuy author list. Give. Me. More!

Firstly I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc 🥰❤️

I.LOVED.THIS.BOOK. ❤️❤️

I love a fairytale retelling more than anything else and T.Kingfisher has made this standalone perfect for every adult to enjoy. It’s dark and moody with uplifting moments weaved throughout. The characters are strange and odd and yet familiar and so loveable.

The book tells the tale of Marra, her small kingdom and her adventure to save her sisters from a brutish prince (I’m keeping this spoiler free guys ❤️❤️). Along her way she meets some amazing friends and forms some amazing relationships. Wonderful magic is performed and the dead speak. Marra is amazing!! I really grew to care for her and her campaign, I wanted to protect her sisters, and their bodies, with her. I genuinely wanted to go with them!! I don’t want to give to much detail but if you love bone dogs, demon chickens, sexy former knights and dancing teeth then this book is definitely for you!! 🥰😏

I really really enjoyed this book and I’m definitely going to read more by the author ❤️❤️ It’s a tale that I’ll remember for a long time!!

I read The Hollow Places by this author last year and really enjoyed it, so when I saw this I knew I had to read it! This was just as eerie and cloaked in darkness. The author continues to astound me with their extraordinarily creative mind, allowing these weird, dark, and wonderful stories to emerge.

The world building was extremely intriguing and unique, whilst also piling on the eerie atmosphere and sucking me into this world the author created!

I did struggle to connect with the characters, though. Not that they were wooden, I just didn’t seem to relate to them or make myself particularly care about what happened to them. I mean, something spurred me on to keep reading, but I can’t exactly pinpoint what that was. I think it was because I was intrigued with the plot and the eerie atmosphere and mystery the author had created.

Overall, although I had some problems connecting with the characters, I still enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

it's just ok.

the book started off strong and i liked the atmosphere and the writing at first, but after a while i got the sense that it was a short story stretched too long. and i was right! it dragged terribly in the middle and i was not a fan of the brewing romance. i enjoyed the haunting imagery, the eerie scenes, and the creativity, but the worldbuilding could have been better established and the plot could have been a little tighter. despite the dark atmosphere, the tone of the novel was lighter because of the dialogue and the storytelling— which was a good balance actually.

though the book is generally good, i cannot give it a higher rating because it bored me after the first act, which i assume was where the original short story ended. anyway, i would still probably recommend it to people who want a fun, spooky read!

This book had me at Demon Chicken. There are lots more to recommend about this whimsical and wonderful tale but just keep the chicken in mind 😉

Nettle and Bone is a truly charming read, balancing wit and humour with serious elements of sexual assault and oppression. The playful use of fairytale tropes always entertained me, with a real sense of leaning into the pure wackiness of folktales. What I would say is that this book seems to have two distinct feels: the fragmented psychological tension of the first portion, and an outright romp for the remainder. Both are handled well, but it is a little jarring to be lulled into expecting a more complicated narrative than actually happens. A big knock-on effect is that it feels increasingly less like Marra's story in a way that is a little disappointing. But that slight identity crisis shouldn't hinder the pure enjoyment that comes from this very genuine revisionist fantasy.

(Review to be posted on GR closer to release)

Marra is the youngest of three daughters, princesses in a small but important kingdom. To keep the prospect of invading kingdoms at bay, the eldest daughter is married off to a neighbouring Prince. The second eldest is held in abeyance if needed, but Marra is sent to live in a convent. This is not entirely against her will as she does not suit the palace lifestyle, nor does it suit her. Marra lives a happy life at the convent until a tragedy happens, and then more unhappiness is added. Marra decides the only way to stop more heartache is to take the matter into her own hands.

Reading the first chapter I wasn’t sure this was a book for me. By chapter 4 I was totally hooked and read the whole book in a day. A real fairy tale, with witches, goblins, fairy godmothers, et al. Totally absorbing, wonderful story telling. There is darkness and light, happiness and sadness, terror and laughter, a demon chicken and a Bonedog, along with a cursed chick, all blended together into an exquisite tale. Laugh out loud moments too, especially Agnes talking to Marra about Fenris!

I loved this book and would definitely recommend, a real gem.

Thank you NetGalley.

This is the first book I've read by T. Kingfisher, I wasn't sure what to expect from her writing style and I have to say I was surprised.

After her sisters suffer at the hands of a violent prince, Marra, the third-born who grew up in a convent, realizes that no one will rush to their aid and so she must fend for herself.
The only person she will have to rely on is herself.
With the help of a powerful sorcerer, Marra is offered tools to kill a prince, but first she must complete three impossible tasks.
It is the beginning of an impossible challenge.
Marra, joined by a witch, a fairy godmother, a former knight and a demon-possessed chicken, seek revenge in the death of the prince by ending his tyrannical reign.

Unexpected writing, an engaging story full of twists and turns. Dynamic and adventurous, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. A really well laid out story, a nice journey into an original and creative fantasy world.